Externally adjustable passive drainage device

Abstract

Described herein is an IOP control device for implantation in an eye of a patient, comprising a housing including an inlet port and an outlet port, a fluid flow passageway configured to allow the flow of fluid from the inlet port to the outlet port, and at least one valve anchored within the housing. The at least one valve includes a first side and an opposing second side, and is configured to affect flow through the fluid flow passageway from the inlet port to the outlet port by moving in response to pressure differentials acting on the opposing first and second sides. The at least one valve is remotely adjustable between an active condition increasing resistance to the flow of fluid within the fluid flow passageway and an inactive condition decreasing resistance to the flow of fluid within the fluid flow passageway.

We claim: 
     
       1. An TOP control device for implantation in an eye of a patient, comprising:
 a housing sized for implantation into the eye of the patient and including an inlet port and an outlet port; 
 a fluid flow passageway extending from the inlet port to the outlet port, the fluid flow passageway being configured to allow the flow of fluid from the inlet port to the outlet port; and 
 at least one valve disposed within the housing, the at least one valve including a first side and an opposing second side, the at least one valve comprising a switch element movable to a first position and a second position relative to the housing, the first position placing the valve in the active condition and the second position placing the valve in the inactive condition wherein the first position positions the switch element away from an inner surface of the housing into the fluid flow passageway, and the second position positions the switch element against the inner surface of the housing, the at least one valve configured to affect flow through the fluid flow passageway from the inlet port to the outlet port by moving in response to pressure differentials acting on the opposing first and second sides, the at least one valve being remotely adjustable between an active condition increasing resistance to the flow of fluid within the fluid flow passageway and an inactive condition decreasing resistance to the flow of fluid within the fluid flow passageway. 
 
     
     
       2. The TOP control device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve comprises a sealing portion being shaped and configured to control flow rates of aqueous humor through the fluid flow passageway by deflecting in response to pressure differentials acting across the sealing portion. 
     
     
       3. The TOP control device of  claim 2 , wherein the sealing portion comprises a flexible membrane responsive to a pressure differential across a first membrane surface and an opposing second membrane surface. 
     
     
       4. The TOP control device of  claim 2 , wherein the sealing portion comprises a flexible, corrugated membrane. 
     
     
       5. The TOP control device of  claim 2 , wherein the switch element couples the sealing portion to the housing. 
     
     
       6. An TOP control system, comprising:
 a drainage device sized for implantation in an eye of a patient, comprising: 
 a drainage tube including a proximal end and a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween; 
 a flow system in communication with the lumen of the drainage tube, the flow system comprising: 
 a housing including an inlet port and an outlet port; 
 a fluid flow passageway extending from the inlet port to the outlet port, the fluid flow passageway being configured to allow the flow of fluid from the inlet port to the outlet port; and 
 a first valve disposed within the housing and configured to have a first cracking pressure, the first valve including a first side, and an opposing second side, the first valve configured to affect flow through the fluid flow passageway by deflecting in response to pressure differentials acting on the opposing first and second sides; 
 a second valve configured to have a second cracking pressure; and 
 an external control device being operable to selectively and remotely control the first valve to assume an active condition wherein the first valve increases resistance to the flow of fluid within the fluid flow passageway and to assume an inactive condition wherein the first valve decreases resistance to the flow of fluid within the fluid flow passageway; and further wherein the external control device comprises an actuator configured to selectively activate or deactivate the second valve. 
 
     
     
       7. The TOP control system of  claim 6 , wherein the first valve comprises a switch element coupling a sealing portion to the housing. 
     
     
       8. The TOP control system of  claim 7 , wherein the sealing portion is shaped and configured to control flow rates of aqueous humor through the fluid flow passageway by deflecting in response to pressure differentials acting across the sealing portion. 
     
     
       9. The TOP control system of  claim 8 , wherein the sealing portion comprises a flexible membrane responsive to a pressure differential across a first membrane surface and an opposing second membrane surface. 
     
     
       10. The TOP control system of  claim 7 , wherein the switch element is movable to a first position and a second position relative to the housing, the first position placing the first valve in the active condition and the second position placing the first valve in the inactive condition. 
     
     
       11. The TOP control system of  claim 10 , wherein the first position positions the switch element away from an inner surface of the housing into the fluid flow passageway, and the second position positions the switch element and the sealing portion against the inner surface of the housing. 
     
     
       12. The TOP control system of  claim 10 , wherein the external control device comprises an actuator configured to selectively activate the first valve by moving the switch element to the first position. 
     
     
       13. The IOP control system of  claim 10 , wherein the external control device comprises an actuator configured to selectively deactivate the first valve by moving the switch element to the second position. 
     
     
       14. The TOP control system of  claim 6 , wherein the first cracking pressure and the second cracking pressure are the same. 
     
     
       15. The TOP control system of  claim 14 , wherein the first cracking pressure and the second cracking pressure are different.